Researchers tout shatter-proof alternative to fluorescent lights

SAN FRANCISCO— Researchers at Wake Forest University say they have developed a flicker-free, shatterproof alternative to fluorescent light bulbs for large-scale lighting.

The researchers say the new lighting technology, based on field-induced polymer electroluminescent (FIPEL) technology, does not create the buzz sound associated with fluorescent light bulbs and also gives off soft, white light—not the yellowish glint from fluorescents or bluish tinge from LEDs.

"People often complain that fluorescent lights bother their eyes, and the hum from the fluorescent tubes irritates anyone sitting at a desk underneath them," said David Carroll, the scientist leading the development of this technology at Wake Forest. "The new lights we have created can cure both of those problems and more."

This new lighting solution is at least twice as efficient as compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs and on par with LEDs, according to Carroll's team. But these bulbs won't shatter and contaminate a home like CFLs or emit a bluish light like LED counterparts, the researchers say.

Wake Forest University physics professor David Carroll (top) works with graduate student Greg Smith on new FIPEL lighting technology.

Credit: Ken Bennett, Wake Forest University

The Wake Forest team uses a nano-engineered polymer matrix to convert the charge into light. This allows the researchers to create an entirely new light bulb—overcoming one of the major barriers in using plastic lights in commercial buildings and homes. The research supporting the technology is described in a study appearing online in advance of publication in the peer-reviewed journal Organic Electronics.

The device is made of three layers of moldable white-emitting polymer blended with a small amount of nanomaterials that glow when stimulated to create bright and perfectly white light similar to the sunlight human eyes prefer. However, it can be made in any color and any shape, the researchers say.

"If you wanted blue lights, discos would still be popular," Carroll said. "You want lights that have a spectral content that is appealing to us inside of a building. You want a light that won't shatter and create a hazmat situation while your children are around."

Carroll's group is the first to make a large-scale FIPEL based on natural white light that can replace current office lighting and is. Beyond office and home lighting, Carroll sees potential uses for large display lighting, from store marquees to signs on buses and subway cars.

Wake Forest is working with a company to manufacture the technology and plans to have it ready for consumers as early as next year, according to the university.

Carroll is the Director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest.

Nothing in the press release described the electrical signal that makes the material glow. But that certainly does matter, possibly quite a lot. CFL devices have that negative resistance function, and they change a whole lot as they warm up. So it would have been quite valuable to have a description as to just what sort of drive this material requires. And then there is one more question, which is: does it ever "wear out"?

I welcome alternative technologies to create light, and hope that FIPEL will turn out to be commercially viable, but does Wake Forest hire used car salesmen to be their researchers? When they equated LEDs with discos...wow, guys.

Being commercialised as early as next year is very appealing! Seems this is a very good breakthrough to the lighting industry. With large scale lighting this surely is a better choice for HBLED! How about the electronics driving this kind of display? A pure DC voltage source or current source or still good with AC?